the role of childhood fears and brain-behavioral systems in adolescent obsessive-compulsive disorder: an evolutionary model based on the mediation of uncertainty intolerance

Objective: the current investigation scrutinizes a proposed theoretical model grounded in the principles of evolution concerning the etiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (ocd). the primary aim of this research is to explore the intermediary function of intolerance of ambiguity in the association between childhood anxieties and brain-behavioral mechanisms exhibiting indications and manifestations of ocd in male and female high school students from kouhdasht city, iran. methods: the target population encompassed all male and female students attending secondary schools in kouhdasht city. utilizing cluster sampling, data collection involved the employment of the revised fear questionnaire for children and adolescents, carver and white's (1994) scale measuring behavioral inhibition/activation systems, the uncertainty intolerance questionnaire, and fawa et al.'s (2002) practical obsession questionnaire. data analysis was conducted utilizing spss and amos software. results: findings from the data analysis indicated a direct impact of childhood fears and intolerance of ambiguity on obsessive-compulsive disorder. furthermore, childhood fears and behavioral brain systems were found to indirectly influence this disorder through the activation of intolerance of ambiguity. conclusions: consequently, it is recommended that familiarity with evolution should not be limited to professionals in scientific domains but should also be accessible to the broader public.